Milling machine attachment supporting apparatus



Oct. 15, 1940. .J. B. ARMITAGE MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT SUPPORTING AP ARATUS Fil p 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOSEPH B. ARMITAGE. BY W ATTO Oct. 15, 1940. J. B. ARMITAGE MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 7194c 2 217 93 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE MILLING MACHINE ATTACHMENT SUPPORTING APPARATUS Joseph B. Armitage, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Kearney & Trecker Corporation, West Allis, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,273

17 Claims. (01. 90-11 This invention relates generally to machine level to receive the attachment after it has been tools and more particularly to means for handling ai ed i removing it from th operatin posiand Supporting attachment for a milling tion. Both the crane and the attachment rechinek ceiving elements may be carried by a single A general Object of the inventio? to provide bracket removably mounted on the machine, and improved means for storing a milling machine the pivot pin supporting the crane is refer bly attachment, and improved apparatus for moving made hollow to Serve as part f a conduit for the attachment between its storage position and supplying Coolant fl id to the eutten its operating position. The foregoing and other objects of the invenlo Another ob ectof the invention isto provide tion, which will become m fully apparent 10 Improved Llpportmg mfeans F 5 a from the following detailed description of appatachment in non-operating positlon on a milli m xemplifying the invention, m y b machine' achieved by means of the structure shown in and Another oblect of e mvemlon P provlde described in connection with the accompanying 1:, improved means for supporting a milling madrawings in which. 15

chme attachment whlle 1t 1 bemg moved Figure 1 is a view in right side elevation of the tween one and another posltlonupper part of a horizontal milling machine pro- Another object is to provide a milling machine Vided with attachment Supporting apparatus attachment Supporting Crane of improved 0011' bodying the'invention, the attachment being 30 St uct on at is Cap b e o 'p o u shown in operating position on the front of the versal movement of the attachm nt in a horimachine with arts broken away to disclose the zontal plane. internal construction;

An h r object i to provi n attachment Fig. 2 is a View generally similar to Fig. 1 but handling Crane having means for elevating the showing the attachment suspended in non-operattachment to facilitate removing it from operating or storage position at the side of the ma- 25 ating position. chine;

A further object is to provide means for sus- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine showing pending an attachment in non-operating posithe attachment supported in operating position tion and a crane for moving the attachment beon the front thereof and indicating in dotted tween non-operating position and operating polines its location when suspended in the storage 30 sition, both of which are carried by a bracket reposition at the side of the machine; and movably mounted on a machine tool. Fig. dis an enlarged detail view of part of the A still further object of the invention is to attachment handling crane, taken in longitudiprovide an improved coolant supply system for nal vertical section approximately on the plane 55: the cutter of an attachment movably mounted represented by the line 4-4 in Fig. 3. 5 on a machine tool. Referring more specifically to the drawings,

According to this invention, a milling machine the particular machine tool there illustrated is a provided witha spindle-and having an overarm milling machine of the horizontal spindle type, structure disposed to support an attachment in only the upper part of the machine being shown,

40 operating position with respect to the spindle, is since the present invention is not concerned with 40 equipped at a position spaced from the overarm other parts thereof.

structure, with means to suspend the attachment As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the milling ma.- in non-operating position, the suspending means chine comprises essentially an upstanding column including elements similar in shape to the over- In having a driving spindle H rotatably mount- 5 arm structure for receiving the attachment. ed in horizontal position in the upper part there- For moving the attachment between the operof and an overarm structure l2 disposed above ating and the non-operating position, an atthe spindle for supporting cutting apparatus in tachment handling crane is provided, the crane cooperating relationship therewith. The overarm being pivotally mounted on the machine arm stucture I2 includes twoparallelly disposed and having a hinged joint to permit universal round bars l3 and I4 that constitute double overmovement of the attachment in a horizontal arms and that are slidably mounted in the top plane. The crane is provided with means to of the column I!) for longitudinal movement, raise the attachment to disengage it from the clamping bolts l5 being provided for clamping machine, and the supporting means in the nonthem rigidly to the column.

5 operating position is preferably disposed at the For adapting the milling machine to perform.

a particular type of work, an appropriate attachment I6 may be mounted in operative position on the front of the machine in manner to be driven by the spindle II, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. To provide for mounting the attachment I6 on the machine, the body of the attachment is fitted with sockets I1 and I8, which engage the ends of the overarms I3 and I4 respectively in such manner that the attachment is supported by and suspended therefrom, clamping bolts I9 being.

provided for clamping the attachment to the overarm structure. For driving the attachment, a gear 2| is secured to the forward end of the spindle II in manner to mesh with and drive a gear 22 rotatably mounted in a gear casing 23 that constitutes an independent part of the attachment and that is secured to the front face of the column ID by means of gibs 24, as shown in Fig. 3. The driving connection from the gear 22 in the casing 23 to the spindle of the attachment I6 in a spindle housing 26 thereof includes a splined shaft arranged to permit movement of the attachment spindle housing 26 relative to the column III, upon sliding the overarms I3 and I4 which carry it, into or out of the column. Since the gear casing 23 is supported on the column I0 independently of the overarm structure I2, it is necessary, in order to assure correct meshing of the gear 22 with the gear 2|, to provide the gears with spacing discs or plates 21 and 28 respectively of diameters equal to their respective pitch circles and arranged to roll together in manner to position the gear 22 at the proper center distance from the gear 2|.

When it is desired to utilize the machine for driving a milling cutter directly connected to the spindle II or for similar purposes, it is necessary to remove the attachment I6 from its operating position on the front of the machine. To obviate the necessity of transporting the unneeded attachment to a tool room or other distant storage place, the machine is provided, according to this invention, with means mounted on the side of the column for suspending the attachment in non-operating or storage position. As may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the attachment suspending means is constituted by a bracket 3| which presents horizontally projecting bosses or stub overarms 33 and 34, that are generally similar in size and disposition to the ends of the overarms I3 and I4 which engage and support the attachment in its operating position. The bosses 33' and 34 constitute a supporting structure corresponding to the overarm structure I2 and they are adapted to receive and suspend the attachment I6 thereon, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, in manner similar to that in which it is supported in operating position by the overarm structure I2. The bracket 3| is detachably secured on the side of the machine column II] in a position normally occupied by a plate provided with ventilating louvers; hence corresponding louvers 35 are provided in the bracket to perform the same function.

For supporting the attachment I6 while it is being moved between its operating and its nonoperating or storage position, there is provided an attachment handling crane 36 pivotally supported on the machine, preferably on the bracket 3| and arranged to provide for universal movement of the attachment in a horizontal plane. As may best be seen in Fig. 3, the crane 36 is of jointed or hinged construction to permit linear movement of the attachment in any direction to 1 facilitate sliding the attachment onto the supporting bosses 33 and 34. The crane includes a main arm 31 which is pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging movement on a pivot pin or main swivel shaft 38 projecting upward from the bracket 3I at the top of the column III. At its outer end, the arm 3"! is pivotally connected to a second or swiveling arm 39 by means of a vertically disposed pivot pin or swivel arm shaft 40 in manner to permit horizontal swinging movement of the arm 39 relative to the arm 31. By this construction, the outer end of the arm 39 is capable of universal movement in a horizontal plane.

Because of the fact that the attachment driving gears 2| and 22 are provided with the spacing plates or discs 21 and 28, it is necessary, in removing the attachment from its operating position, to lift it a sufficient distance to permit the ends of the gear teeth to clear the edges of the discs before the attachment may be withdrawn from the front of the machine. To provide for lifting the attachment, the outer end of the swiveling arm 39 is equipped with an elevating arm 4| which carries the attachment and is pivotally connected to or fulcrumcd upon the arm 39 by means of a horizontally disposed fulcrum or pivot pin 42 and which is engaged at its inner end by an elevating screw 43 threaded in the arm 39, as best shown in Fig. 4. The outer end of the elevating arm 4| is provided with a socket 44 that receives a ball 45 on the upper end of a supporting stud 46 that is threaded into the top of the attachment I6.

In removing the attachment I6 from its operating position, it is first necessary to retract the overarms I3 and I4 into the column, to the position shown in Fig. 2, to permit vertical movement of the attachment, the clamping bolts I9 of the attachment and the clamping bolts I5 on the column being loosened to allow inwardly sliding movement of the overarms. The gibs 24 of the gear casing 23 are then loosened, and the entire attachment is then raised by turning the elevating screw 43 on the crane, by means of a suitable crank or wrench, a suflicient distance to disengage the gear 22 from the gear 2|. The attachment I6 may then be moved from its operating position, preferably by first pulling it straight to the front, after which it may be swung around the corner of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 3, to the storage position.

Since. it is necessary to raise the attachment slightly in removing it from its operating posi tion, the bosses 33 and 34 for supporting it in non-operating position are disposed slightly higher than the overarms I3 and I4, as indicated in Fig. l, in order that they may be positioned to receive the attachment without further vertical adjustment thereof. By reason of the jointed construction of the crane 36, the attachment I6 may readily be moved into alignment with the bosses 33 and 34 and slid onto them along a linear path to its storage position. After the attachment has been suspended on the bosses 33 and 34, the clamp bolts I9 may be tightened to clamp it rigidly in the storage position.

As shown in the drawings, the crane 36 is supported entirely upon the pivot pin 38 which projects upward from the supporting bracket 3|. Because of this construction, the entire attachment storing and transferring mechanism may be removed from the machine as a unit by simply detaching the bracket from the side of the column. Likewise, the attachment handling apparatus may be applied readily to a machine not originally equipped with it, by merely sub stituting the bracket 3| for the louvered cover plate usually provided on the side of the machine.

Although the attachment handling crane andthe storage bosses are illustrated as constitut-' ing parts of a detachable unitary mechanism, under some circumstances it may be preferable to mount the crane and the bosses directly and permanently upon the machine, the main swiveling shaft and the individual bosses being con.- nected directly and individually to the column instead of to a removable bracket.

In order that coolant fluid may be supplied to the milling cutter of the attachment most conveniently, the coolant is brought up through the pivot pin 38, which is formed hollow for that purpose, a pipe 48 being connected between the usual coolant pump (not shown) and the lower end of the pin 38. From the upper end of the hollow pivot pin 38, a flexible conduit 49 leads to a coolant nozzle 50 adjustably mounted on the attachment. By this arrangement the flexible coolant conduit is supported above and out of the way of the attachment and of the crane, and it may be deflected, as shown in Fig. 3, when the attachment is moved to non-operating position, the movement being effected without interference from the conduit and without danger of kinking or otherwise damaging it.

When it is desired to change attachments by substituting an attachment of another type for the attachment IS, a retaining pin 5! in the elevating arm 4| may be removed to permit the ball 45 on the top of, the supporting stud 46 to be lifted out of the socket M. The supporting stud ball of the substitute attachment may then be engaged with the socket 44, and the retaining pin 5| replaced.

It has been found desirable in suspending attachments of certain types in storage position, to slide them onto the stub overarms 33 and 34 somewhat farther than they are engaged with the overarms l3 and [4 in the operating position. For this purpose, the lower parts of the stub overarms 33 and 34 areeut away to provide clearance spaces 53 and 54, as indicated in Fig. 1, to permit driving gears or other elements of the attachments, which would otherwise strike the ends of the stub arms, to pass beneath them.

Although the particular mechanism shown in the drawings and referred to in this specification has been described in detail for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention, the structure set forth is to be taken as exemplary only, and it is to be understood that skilled mechanics may construct various other embodiments thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the sub joined claims;

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a milling machine and an attachment therefor adapted to be supported on said machine at either of two positions, of a crane pivotally mounted on said machine for supporting said attachment while it is being moved from the one to the other position, said crane comprising hingedly connected parts arranged to permit universal movement of said attachment in a horizontal planeand a hingedly connected part arranged to permit movement of said attachment in a vertical plane, whereby said attachment may be elevated to effect disengagement thereof from said machine.

2. An attachment handling crane for a machine tool, comprising an arm arranged to be pivotally mounted on a machine tool for movement in a horizontal plane, a second arm pivotally connected to said first arm for movement in a horizontal plane, and a third arm pivotally connected to said second arm for movement in a vertical plane, said third arm being provided with means for pivotally supporting an attachment, whereby said attachment may be adjusted vertically by pivotal movement of said third arm and may have universal movement in any horizontal plane to whichit is thus adjusted by reason of the pivotal connections between said pivoted first arm and said second arm and between said third arm and said attachment.

3. In an attachment handling crane for a machine to-ol, the combination with a horizontally movable swiveling arm pivotally supported by said machine tool, of an attachment supporting arm pivotally mounted on said horizontally movable arm for movement in a vertical plane,

and an elevating screw mechanism on said horizontally movable arm disposed to engage and actuate said attachment supporting arm in manner to pivot it for adjusting the vertical position of an attachment. supported thereby.

4. The combination with a 'machine tool, and an attachment adapted to be mounted thereon and requiring lifting vertically to be disengaged therefrom, of a crane pivotally mounted on said machine tool for horizontal movement in handling said attachment,- and an arm pivoted for vertical movement on said crane for lifting said attachment to disengage it from said machine tool, whereupon it may be moved horizontally to an inactive position.

5. In a machine tool provided with an attachment requiring lifting to disengage it from operating position on said machine, the combination with means on said machine for support,- ing said attachment in non-operating position, said means being arranged to receive said attachment by movement thereof horizontally along a linear path, a crane for supporting said attachment for movement from the one to" the other position, said crane being provided with a member pivoted for vertical movement to lift said attachment and being provided with a hinged portion to permit universal movement of said attachment, whereby said attachment may be lifted to disengage it and then moved horizontally to said non-operating location and en gaged with said supporting. means by linear horizontal movement.

6. In attachment supporting means for a milling machine provided with an attachment therefor, a bracket detachably mounted on said machine for supporting said attachment in non-. operating or storage position,.a pair of hOT'i-e zontally projecting bosses on said bracket arranged to slidingly receive and rigidly support said attachment in storage position, and a crane pivoted for horizontal swinging movement on said bracket for supporting. Said attachment while it is being moved between storage position and operating position, said crane being pro vided with a hinged joint to permit universal movement of said attachment in" a horizontal plane whereby it may be slid linearly onto said horizontally projecting bosses,- said supporting bracket and said crane pivoted thereon being removable from said machine as a unit.

7. In a machine tool, the combination with a machine frame and movable equipment associated with said machine frame, of means for moving said equipment including a crane mounted on said frame in manner to permit swinging movement, a hollow pivot pin carried by said frame in vertical position to pivotally support said crane, a conduit connected to the lower end of said hollow pivot pin and constituting a source of cutter coolant fluid, and a conduit connected to the upper end of said hollow pivot pin and disposed to deliver coolant fluid therefrom to the machine tool cutting element without interfering with the swinging movement of said crane.

8. Attachment supporting apparatus for a milling machine having an attachment adapted to be mounted in operating position on the front thereof, comprising a bracket on the side of said machine for suspending said attachment in nonoperating position including a horizontally projecting boss disposed to slidingly receive and rigidly support said attachment, and a crane pivoted for horizontal swinging movement on said bracket for supporting said attachment while it is being moved between operating position and non-operating position, said crane being provided with a hinged joint to permit universal movement of said attachment in a horizontal plane, whereby said attachment may be slid linearly onto said horizontally projecting boss.

9. In a machine tool, the combination with a machine frame, of means for moving an attachment associated with said machine tool including a crane mounted on said frame in a manner to permit swinging movement, a coolant fluid conduit having one extremity in said frame and the other attached to said attachment, and a hollow pivot pin carried by said frame in position to support said crane, said hollow pivot pin comprising a portion of said coolant fluid conduit, whereby said coolant conduit remains fixed with relation to said attachment and frame to permit movement of said attachment without regard for said coolant conduit.

10. In a milling machine having a column, a spindle rotatably mounted in said column, a driving gear on said spindle, an overarm structure disposed in cooperating relationship with said spindle, an attachment adapted to be mounted on said overarm structure and including a gear disposed to be driven by said spindle gear, a

' bracket similar in shape to said overarm struc- "bracket being disposed higher than said overarm structure, a crane pivoted for horizontal movement on said column for supporting said attachment while it is being moved from one position to the other, said crane including a pair of pivotally connected arms adapted for movement in a horizontal plane and a third arm pivotally connected to one of said pair of arms adapted for movement in a vertical plane, and an elevating screw mechanism for effecting movement of said third arm, whereby said attachment may be elevated to effect disconnection from said spindle and maintained at a higher elevation to permit alignment with said overarm structure.

11. In a milling machine having a column, a spindle rotatably mounted in said column, an overarm structure disposed in cooperating relationship with said spindle, a shrouded gear on said spindle, an attachment adapted to be mounted on said overarm structure and including a shrouded gear adapted to mesh with and be driven by said shrouded spindle gear, a bracket similar in shape to said overarm structure and spaced therefrom on said column for receiving said attachment to suspend it in non-operating position when it is desired to drive other apparatus by means of said spindle, said bracket being disposed higher than and substantially at right angles to said overarm structure, means for supporting said attachment while being moved between said overarm structure and said bracket, an attachment supporting crane adapted for horizontal swinging movement on said bracket and including a vertically movable element, and screw means for adjusting the elevation of said last named element, whereby the engagement between said shrouded gears may be disconnected by elevating said attachment and. whereby said attachment may be retained in elevated position to permit its being received on said bracket overarm structure.

12. An attachment supporting bracket for a machine tool provided with a removable attachment, comprising a supporting element adapted to be attached to said machine tool, an attachment receiving structure carried by said supporting element and adapted to receive for storage said removable attachment, and a lifting crane pivotally mounted on said supporting element and adapted to support said attachment for movement between its active and storage positions, said bracket being removable from said machine tool as a unit.

13. An attachment supporting apparatus for a machine tool, comprising a supporting element adapted to be fastened to said machine tool, an attachment lifting crane pivotally. mounted on said supporting element, and a conduit for coolant fluid including a tubular element disposed to constitute a pivotpin for supporting said lifting crane.

14. In a machine tool presenting a driving gear provided with a spacing disc and having an attachment presenting a complementary driven gear likewise provided with a spacing disc, the

spacing disc of said driven gear being adapted to rest upon andcooperate with the spacing disc of said driving gear in manner to maintain said gears in predetermined mesh and in interlocking relationship, a crane mounted on said machine tool for facilitating handling said attachment, and lifting means on said crane adapted to lift saidattachmentto disengage said driven gear from said driving gear, whereupon said attachment may be removed from its operating position on said machine.

15. In a milling machine having a frame, a tool spindle rotatably mounted in said frame, an attachment adapted to be fitted on said machine, gearing for driving said attachment including a gear wheel fixed on said spindle and a complementary gear wheel mounted in said attachment, said gear wheels being provided with interengaging pitch-circle spacing discs for establishing predetermined meshing relationship therebetween, and a crane mounted on said frame for moving said attachment, said crane including means for lifting said attachment to separate said gear wheels radially for disengaging them.

16. In a machine tool, the combination with an attachment adapted to be mounted on and driven by said machine tool, of a pair of intermeshing gear wheels mounted respectively on said machine tool and on said attachment and constituting a driving connection therebetween, said gear wheels being provided with pitch-circle spacing discs disposed to roll together to maintain them in predetermined meshing relationship and operating to prevent axial disengaging movement of said gear Wheels, and a crane mounted on said machine tool for moving said attachment between operative and inoperative positions thereon, said crane including means to lift said attachment for causing radial disengaging relative movement between said gear wheels prerequisite to movement of said attachment to its inoperative position.

1'7. In a machine tool, the combination with an attachment adapted to be mounted on and driven by said machine tool, of a pair of intermeshing gear wheels mounted respectively on said machine tool and on said attachment and constituting a driving connection therebetween, said gear wheels being interlocked in manner to prevent axial disengagingmovement-thereof, and a crane mounted on said machine tool for moving said attachment between operative and inoperative positions thereon, said crane including means to lift said attachment for causing radial disengaging relative movement between said gear wheels prerequisite to movement of said attachment to its inoperative position.

JOSEPH B. ARMITAGE. 

